Unconverted Choirs
D.L. Moody emphasizes the need for churches to return to spiritual standards and separate from the world in order to experience true power and revival.
D.L. Moody addresses the issue of unconverted choirs in churches, emphasizing that singing in an unknown tongue is as problematic as speaking it. He criticizes choirs that perform without engaging the congregation, leading to a lack of spiritual connection and participation. Moody points out the detrimental effects of hiring unconverted individuals for church roles, who distract from the worship experience. He calls for a return to humility, confession of sin, and separation from worldly influences to regain God's power in the church. Ultimately, he stresses that true revival comes from genuine worship and a sincere heart for God.
Text
Paul tells us not to speak in an unknown tongue, and if we have choirs who are singing in an unknown tongue, why is not that just as great an abomination? I have been in churches where they have had a choir, who would rise and sing, and sing, and it seemed as if they sung five or ten minutes, and I could not understand one solitary word they sung, and all the while the people were looking around carelessly. There are, perhaps, a select few, very fond of fine music, and they want to bring the opera right into the church, and so they have opera music in the church, and the people, who are drowsy and sleepy, don't take part in the singing.
They hire ungodly men, unconverted men, and these men will sometimes get the Sunday paper, and get back in the organ loft, and the moment the minister begins his sermon, they will take out their papers and read them all the while that the minister is preaching. The organist, provided he does not go out for a walk if he happens to keep awake, will read his paper, or perhaps, a novel, while the minister is preaching; and the minister wonders why God don't revive His work; he wonders why he is losing his hold on the congregation; he wonders why people don't come crowding into the church; why people are running after the world instead of coming into the church.
The trouble is that we have let down the standard; we have grieved the Spirit of God. One movement of God's power is worth more than all our artificial power, and what the Church of God wants today is to get down in the dust of humiliation and confession of sin, and go out and be separated from the world; and then see if we do not have power with God and with man.
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of Unconverted Choirs
- The Condition of Many Churches
- The Cause of the Problem
- The Solution
- Humiliation and Confession of Sin
- Separation from the World
Key Quotes
“One movement of God's power is worth more than all our artificial power.” — D.L. Moody
“The trouble is that we have let down the standard; we have grieved the Spirit of God.” — D.L. Moody
“What the Church of God wants today is to get down in the dust of humiliation and confession of sin, and go out and be separated from the world;” — D.L. Moody
Application Points
- Churches must prioritize spiritual power and conviction over artificial music and entertainment.
- Leaders must be spiritually qualified and focused on the message of the gospel.
- Humility and confession of sin are essential for revival and spiritual renewal.